Democrats nominate first woman as GOP race heads to runoff

By BEN NADLERMay 23, 2018

In this May 20, 2018, photo, Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams participates in a debate against Stacey Evans in Atlanta. In Georgia, black women will likely factor into one of the country's marquee political contests. The Democratic race for governor features two women, and candidate Abrams is running to become the first black woman ever elected governor in America. (AP Photo/John Amis)

ATLANTA (AP) — In Georgia’s gubernatorial primary, Democrats elected a woman who could become the first black female governor in American history, but no Republican candidate gathered more than 50 percent of the vote — so the top two face a July runoff.

Stacey Abrams secured the Democratic nomination, becoming the first woman to do so. She will face either Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle or Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Their GOP runoff is scheduled for July 24.

Abrams beat former state Rep. Stacey Evans in a race featuring two former legislative colleagues tussling over ethics accusations and their respective records on education

Abrams campaign was plagued by allegations of ethics violations, including that she reimbursed herself money from campaign accounts without record and that she used campaign resources to promote book sales from which she personally profited. She has denied the allegations.

Abrams got a last-minute boost with an endorsement -- in the form of a 60-second robo-call -- from Hillary Clinton.

In the Republican race, Cagle and Kemp beat three GOP rivals in a race characterized by strong support for gun rights and tough talk on immigration. The field was all white men: former legislators, officeholders and businessmen, some with decades of political experience and others positioning themselves as outsiders challenging the establishment.

Cagle garnered national headlines in February when he threatened to kill a tax break benefiting Delta Air Lines, one of Georgia’s largest employers, for ending a discount program for members of the National Rifle Association.

Kemp garnered strong criticism — and national headlines — with a series of campaign ads including one where he says he has a big truck, “Just in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take ’em home myself.”

In the ballroom of a downtown Atlanta hotel, Abrams thanked supporters and outlined her vision for the future.

She drew loud and sustained applause when she told the crowd, “We can repeal campus carry and we can expand HOPE,” referring to a law that allows guns to be brought onto college campuses and a popular scholarship program.

Abrams said: “We are writing the next chapter of Georgia’s future, where no one is unseen, no one is unheard and no one is uninspired.”

Cagle and Kemp, meanwhile, showed no signs of slowing down and pivoted directly to talk of the runoff.

In Athens, Kemp told supporters, “We have created that grass-roots game in all 159 counties that has worked so hard for us tonight,” as he laid out his strategy for defeating Cagle.

At Cagle’s gathering in Gainesville, he told the crowd: “It’s great to come in first place. We’ve got a lot more to be done.”

“We are right where we need to be in terms of this runoff,” Cagle said.

The candidates are vying to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Nathan Deal, who has held the office since 2011.